‘Everybody’s struggling’: Chatham’s Hope Haven expands overnight shelter amid rising need

Chatham’s homeless centre has extended its hours amid a cold snap.

Hope Haven in downtown Chatham has expanded its hours as cold weather settles in and the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to rise.

General Manager Loree Bailey says the shelter began operating on an extended schedule earlier than usual this year, opening nightly at 7 p.m. and remaining available until 7 a.m., in addition to its daily 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. drop-in hours.

“This year we started Nov. 1 actually being open extended. So, seven at night till seven in the morning, as well as our 10 [a.m.] to two [p.m.] that we are always doing every day,” Bailey said.

She says extra support allowed them to offer the longer hours ahead of schedule — something urgently needed as temperatures drop.

“It is really cold. And, yeah, we had a little bit of extra support to do that. So, we’re grateful and we’re busy. There’s a ton of people that really need the service.”

Bailey says approximately 80 people typically stay overnight, with others coming and going throughout the evening to warm up, watch a movie, make calls or spend a few hours indoors.

“People are welcome to come and just stay for the whole time. Some people do that. Some people come in, get warmed up, spend a few hours and head back out … but yeah, we’re doing okay,” she said.

She notes the downtown core is seeing more people in crisis, though not everyone visible on the streets is necessarily unhoused or dealing with mental-health or substance-use issues.

“Are there more people experiencing homelessness? Yes. Are they doing extreme things in extreme circumstances? Yes,” she said. “But not every single person that we see downtown necessarily is experiencing homelessness.”

Bailey says safety is a concern for staff, clients and the broader community, but she believes police are maintaining a strong presence.

“I want it to be safe for staff that are here overnight. I want it to be safe for the people that are out walking and out and about. And I have full faith in our Chatham-Kent police… everybody’s just doing the best they can to keep it safe,” she said.

Bailey notes that Hope Haven continues to rely heavily on community donations to operate through the winter.

“We always need help. Always need donations,” Bailey told CTV News, noting the shelter depends on support for essentials such as coffee, sugar, and heating costs.

“Monetary donations are always welcome. I guess the most important thing is the holidays, and I just want people to be kind,” she said. “Everybody’s struggling.”